This new device will test out all medical equipment to ensure patient safety

What if there was a device that could mimic a human in order to test how safe hospital equipment is on a patient? Rigel Medical has developed a medical device called The PatSim200 that does just that.

The PatSim200 is a hand-held device that will imitate the signs of a patient such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and respiration. A biomedical engineer can configure patient signs and the device will analyze the effectiveness and accuracy of intensive care unit equipment. This process will ensure any errors to be accurate when used on a real patient.

One in Four operating room errors are due to technology and equipment issues, according to BMJ Quality & Safety (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130725202432.htm). The purpose of this device is to improve safety of medical equipment as well efficiency by reducing the time it takes engineers to complete hospital checks.

The device was designed by the Rigel Medical’s principle systems engineer, David Fitzgerald, and industrial designer, Mark Beckwith. The design is portable, robust, and eco-friendly. It includes a USB port for charging and a rechargeable battery to avoid running costs. When being designed, Beckwith and Fitzgerald took into account the lifespan of such a device and made it modular. It can be taken apart and put back together with additional pieces so it can be updated or turned into a new device all together.

A large color display screen shows the home menu and all the required patient signs. Blood pressure machines and temperature checking equipment can be connected through the cable ports alongside the device.

The device has a “favorites” feature which allows engineers to pick a selection of the most common patient signs for faster testing and retrieval. Fitzgerald took inspiration from a digital radio’s favorite channels so biomedical engineers could avoid spending so much time scrolling through all of the testing choices.

The PatSim200 can revolutionize the process of testing patient safety. It will minimize the time it takes for medical equipment to be tested. Medical equipment would not need to be taken into a workshop to make sure everything is functioning correctly.

“Healthcare technology is becoming increasingly advanced, which makes it more important than ever to ensure patient safety by regularly testing medical equipment. This is a key part of ensuring quality patient care.”, said Fitzgerald in an interview for Design Week.

The PatSim200 is available online from Rigal Medical and cost around £1000.